When that camping period came to an end Harriet and her companions, as related in “The Meadow-Brook girls across country,” set out on the long walk home, meeting with plenty of adventures and many laughable happenings.  It was during this hike that they became acquainted with the Tramp Club Boys and entered into a walking contest against them, which the Meadow-Brook Girls won.

Our readers next met the girls in “The Meadow-Brook girls afloat,” a volume which contained the account of their houseboat life on Lake Winnepesaukee.  It was there that they again outwitted the Tramp Club, who took their defeat good-naturedly and by way of retaliation aided the girls in running down a mysterious enemy whose malicious mischief had caused them repeated annoyance.

Then, as their summer was not yet ended, the Meadow-Brook Girls accepted an invitation from Jane McCarthy to accompany her on a trip through the White Mountains, all of which is fully set forth in “The Meadow-Brook girls in the Hills.”

It was there that they met with a series of mishaps which they laid at the door of an ill-favored man who had vainly tried to become their guide.  The disappearance of Janus Grubb, the guide who had been engaged by Miss Elting during their mountain hike, and the surprising events that followed made the story of their mountain trip well worth reading.

And now, once more, we find the Meadow-Brook Girls ready to take the trail again wherever that trail might lead.  At the present moment, however, it did not look as though Harriet Burrell and her friends would reach their destination in the immediate future unless it were nearer at hand than they thought.

Not once during the night did the moon show her face, though about two o’clock in the morning the clouds thinned, the landscape showing with more distinctness.  The girls, when they walked down to the shore, saw a sheet of water covering several acres.  Leading down to the water was a pier that extended far out into the little lake or pond, whatever it might be.  Harriet, Jane and Miss Elting walked out to the far end of the pier.

Harriet pointed to the end of the pier as she stood above it.  “It has broken down,” she said.

“No; I think not,” answered the guardian.  “I think, too, that I understand what this is.  It is an ice pier.  Ice is harvested from this pond and carried up over that sloping platform and so on to the shore or to conveyances waiting here.  But how narrow it is.  How ever did you manage to keep on the pier until you reached the end, Jane, dear?”

“I really don’t know, Miss Elting,” replied Jane, evidently impressed with the feat she had accomplished.  She leaned over and peered into the water to see if she could find her car.  It was not to be seen.  Dark objects, floating here and there about the surface, showed the girls where part of their equipment had gone.  Harriet was regarding the dark objects with inquiring eyes.